The P10-million ‘Abacan Loop’ at the Abacan Bridge was opened to motorists today, November 9.
The new bypass under the Abacan Bridge in Barangay Balibago allows motorists to take the alternative route to Clark or Hensonville in Angeles City, which is now heavily congested particularly during rush hours.
But motorists from Mabalacat City reasoned out the Abacan Loop is beneficial only to individual private vehicle owners who are going to the Clark Freeport Zone. Commuters to Mabalacat City using public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will have to traverse the old McArthur Highway along the Balibago business district all the way to the equally congested Barangay Dau, Mabalacat.
Heavy traffic is also expected along the Clark Perimeter Road once the multinational firms such as the multi-million peso Capilion project start operating in front of the SM Clark.
Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement chair Ruperto Cruz said the Clark Development Corporation did not conduct any traffic study in the area.
Cruz said the expected heavy traffic congestion will affect the development of the Clark International Airport and the city will bear its social cost.
The Waze Driver Satisfaction Index released by traffic navigation map application Waze has ranked Angeles City to have one of the worst traffic situations in the country.
Angeles City was ranked No. 147, Manila at No. 170 and Cebu City at No. 186. Angeles City Mayor Ed Pamintuan has downplayed the Waze report as a “plain data.”
“One of the downsides of urbanization is vehicular traffic congestion. Angeles City, as it is poised to be one of the growth corridors of the country, is no exemption to this,” according to Pamintuan.
The newly-paved Abacan Loop is designed to decongest the traffic flow not only in Balibago but also parts of Barangay Ninoy Aquino and Barangay Malabanias.
With the Abacan Loop, motorists coming from city proper going to Clark can now use the alternate route inside Malabanias bypassing the MacArthur highway.
The Angeles City Traffic and Development Office earlier implemented the rerouting along Infinity near the Angeles City Hall in Brgy. Pulung Maragul.
It was also conducting daily clearing operations along major roads.